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‘Pressure Cooker’: Discontent Rises in Venezuela Military as Economy Dives

As President Nicolás Maduro runs for re-election, the armed forces grapple with shortages of food, evaporating salaries and desertions

By

John Otis and

Juan Forero

May 18, 2018 5:30 a.m. ET

CARACAS, Venezuela—The coup plot by disgruntled Venezuelan military officers in March was audacious: Seize control of the capital’s military bases, arrest President Nicolás Maduro and install a provisional government to replace his authoritarian regime.

To avoid detection for a year, conspiring officers eschewed phone calls, texts and emails, and instead sent messages via couriers, said an Army captain who helped plan the thwarted coup. They plotted during seemingly impromptu soccer matches.